Indian citizens holding an ordinary passport need no visa for a holiday in Thailand of 30 days or less (as of November 2026). India is on Thailand's 30-day visa-exemption list, not on the visa-on-arrival list, and Thailand's embassy in New Delhi says the exemption runs from 15 September 2026 "until further announcement".
For a longer trip, or for a purpose other than tourism, you need a visa, applied for online at thaievisa.go.th ahead of the trip. This page covers what the September 2026 change means for Indian passports, the e-Visa options from India with their rupee fees, and what to have ready at a Thai airport.
Indian passports and Thailand (checked 9 November 2026)
- Visa exemption
- Up to 30 days, for tourism, since 15 September 2026
- Visa on arrival
- Not available to Indian citizens; only Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia
- Visas
- Applied for only at thaievisa.go.th since 1 January 2025
- Tourist visa (TR), single entry
- 3,000 INR; 60 days per entry
- Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)
- 30,000 INR; 5 years, 180 days per entry
- Arrival card
- TDAC, online and free, within three days before arrival
- Thai missions in India
- Embassy in New Delhi; consulates-general in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai
What changed for Indian passports on 15 September 2026
On 15 September 2026 Thailand replaced its 60-day visa exemption with a shorter one. Passport holders from 60 countries and territories now get 30 days, and India is one of them. The Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi announced on the same day that the 30-day exemption for Indian passport holders entering for tourism "officially takes effect on 15 September 2026", and its visa page, updated on 2 November 2026, repeats that it stays in force "until further announcement".
Two words in that wording matter. "Tourism" is the purpose the embassy names; the official list itself covers tourism and short business visits, but if you are going for work, study or anything other than a holiday, ask the embassy which visa you need. "Until further announcement" means the rule can change again, so check the embassy page close to your departure date. Our main guide to Thailand's 30-day visa-free entry explains the rule for all nationalities and how it developed.
Why the visa on arrival no longer applies to Indians
For years India was on Thailand's visa-on-arrival list, and many websites and older embassy pages still show it there. Since 15 September 2026 it has been cut to Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia alone.
There was some confusion in 2026. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs summary dated 22 May 2026, based on an early draft, placed India under visa on arrival. The final list published in the Royal Gazette moved India to the 30-day exemption instead, and that is the list in force. If a travel agent or a website tells you to bring photos and a fee for a visa on arrival, it is working from old information. Our page on who can still get a Thai visa on arrival has the full before-and-after table.
No visa on arrival and no paid "ETA" for Indian passports. You need neither a visa-on-arrival form nor any paid electronic travel authorization for a 30-day holiday. Thailand has no ETA in force; the only online step is the free TDAC. Sites charging for either are not official, as our page on Thailand's ETA and fake look-alike sites explains.
When 30 days is not enough: the e-Visa from India
For more than 30 days on one trip, get a visa before departure. The embassy in New Delhi says that since the e-Visa system came into effect on 1 January 2025, all applicants must apply through the official portal, thaievisa.go.th. Do not rely on an agent's paper process; the portal is the route the embassy names.
The New Delhi embassy publishes its fees in Indian rupees. These are the main categories for travelers, as listed on its visa page in November 2026:
| Visa | Validity | Stay per entry | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist (TR) or medical (MT), single entry | 3 months | 60 days | ₹3,000 |
| Tourist (TR), multiple entry | 6 months | 60 days | ₹13,500 |
| Transit (TS), single entry | – | 30 days | ₹2,500 |
| Non-immigrant, single entry (business, education, family and others) | 3 months | 90 days | ₹7,000 |
| Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), multiple entry | 5 years | 180 days | ₹30,000 |
Fees can change; the embassy updated its fee list in April 2026, so confirm the amount in the portal before you pay. The tourist visa (TR) guide walks through the documents and the application step by step.
The TR category on the New Delhi page covers more than sightseeing. It includes MICE events (with a TCEB letter), short courses such as diving, Thai boxing, Thai massage and Thai cooking, family visits of less than 60 days, and football trials. For remote workers and longer stays, the Destination Thailand Visa for remote workers and long stays is the five-year option.
Applying from India: embassy and consulates
The Royal Thai Embassy is at 56-N Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021. Its consular services are by appointment only, and its office hours are Monday to Friday from 09:00 (one embassy page says 09:30) to 17:00; the consular phone number is +91 11 2419 7156. Thailand also has consulates-general in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. Since everything goes through the e-Visa portal, you normally do not need to visit in person, but the embassy asks applicants to read its e-Visa FAQ and list of common mistakes before applying.
At the airport in Thailand: what to have ready
A visa exemption is not a guarantee of entry. Officers at the airport may want proof that you have enough money for the trip and a firm plan to go home. Keep these within reach, printed or saved offline:
- Passport with six months' validity left from your arrival date and one empty page.
- A flight out dated inside your 30 days.
- Funds: 10,000 baht per person or 20,000 baht per family, in cash or as an equivalent amount (children under 12 are not counted).
- Hotel booking or the address where you will stay.
- TDAC confirmation: the free arrival card, filed within three days before you land. Our step-by-step TDAC guide shows how to fill it in.
Our overview of Thailand's international airports explains which one suits your onward plans, and the page on flights to Thailand from elsewhere in Asia covers the routes.
Extensions, land borders and overstaying
Immigration offices in Thailand can extend a visa-exempt stay, but it is up to the officer. Neither the length nor the fee of an extension for the new 30-day exemption was published on any Immigration Bureau page we could read, so call 1178 or check in person first rather than counting on one. If you arrive overland, note that entries on the visa exemption through land borders are generally limited to two per calendar year.
Count your days carefully. Overstaying even by a day means a fine, and longer overstays can lead to detention and a ban on returning; our page on the fines and bans for overstaying sets out the scale. The visa-free stay calculator works out your last legal day.
Practical notes for Indian travelers
Food. Vegetarians will find good options, especially jay (strict plant-based) food, but fish sauce and shrimp paste hide in many everyday dishes. Our guide to eating vegetarian, vegan and halal in Thailand explains what to look for and how to ask.
Language. Outside tourist areas English is limited: the EF English Proficiency Index 2025 ranks Thailand 116th of 123 countries. Our page on how much English is spoken in Thailand has the detail; the Tourist Police on 1155 answer around the clock.
Time. Thailand stays on UTC+7 all year, ahead of India, and never changes its clocks; see what time zone Thailand is in before you book connecting flights.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Thailand in 2026?
Not for a holiday of 30 days or less. Since 15 September 2026 Indian ordinary passport holders enter visa-free for tourism, according to Thailand's embassy in New Delhi. For longer stays or other purposes, apply for a visa at thaievisa.go.th.
Is there a Thai visa on arrival for Indians?
No. Since 15 September 2026 the visa-on-arrival list has only Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia. India moved to the 30-day visa exemption instead, so Indian tourists simply walk up to the passport desk with no visa for a holiday of 30 days or less.
Is the visa-free stay for Indians still 60 days?
No. The 60-day exemption ended on 14 September 2026. Since 15 September the limit for Indian passports, as for the other countries on the list, is 30 days, and the embassy says it applies "until further announcement".
How much does a Thai tourist visa cost in India?
The New Delhi embassy lists 3,000 rupees for a single-entry tourist visa (60 days per entry) and 13,500 rupees for a multiple-entry tourist visa valid for six months, as of November 2026. You pay in the e-Visa portal, which shows the current fee before payment.
Can I apply for a Thai visa through VFS in India?
The embassy in New Delhi says all applicants must apply through the official e-Visa website, thaievisa.go.th, since 1 January 2025. Start your application there and follow the embassy's own instructions rather than an agent's.
Sources
- Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi – Visa information and fees (updated 2 November 2026; checked November 2026)
- Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi – The revision of Thailand's visa exemption and VOA (15 September 2026; checked November 2026)
- Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi – Contact and office hours (checked November 2026)
- Royal Thai Consulate-General, Mumbai – Home (checked November 2026)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand – Thai e-Visa portal (checked November 2026)
- Immigration Bureau – Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) (checked November 2026)
- EF English Proficiency Index 2025 – Thailand (checked November 2026)